Quiet

My parents have been on vacation since last Thursday and I'm enjoying the quiet. I'm beginning to remember what it was like to live away from them, live as a "true" grown up. It's weird, but without them around, I seem to have a great motivation to do things. I come home from work and start dinner on my timeline. As I've started to use the kitchen more, I'm starting to really enjoy cooking again. The fridge is stocked up with leftovers.

I need to figure out how to balance this person with the person I am when my parents are home. I know I need to stay with them a while longer and I'm still figuring out how to make this work best. One of the besties was over for dinner last night, which in itself was awesome to be able to have someone over to "my" space again. She asked, if my financial situation was different, would I move out? I immediately answered "no", but ever since we had the conversation, I've been thinking about it. There are definite pros and cons. Life would definitely be different.

It's funny in a way. I feel like I still haven't fully unpacked at my parents house. When I first moved in, I planned to paint the girls' room and my room. I wanted to make our downstairs living space truly our own. I haven't really done that. I just hung pictures on the wall in my bedroom a little over a month ago. I keep meaning to really move all of my brother and my things out of the bedroom closets, but I just haven't quite found the proper motivation yet. Maybe I will never really feel at home until Laney, Alie and I have moved into a home of our own (or a place that we rent).

So many of our friends have invited us over for dinners and long evenings away. For that I am grateful. Those evenings offer slight glimpses at what I hope it will be like for the girls and I again one day, hopefully soon.